While these moments will undoubtedly lend the film a lighter tone, though, there's no question that there's also plenty of peril in the anticipation of the final battle. We're brought, in this film, to the orphanage of the young Tom Riddle in one of Harry's many tutorials with Professor Dumbledore in which he shares with Harry the memories of those who were there when Voldemort was gaining strength the first time around. "His need in this film is basically to kill Voldemort," says Radcliffe, "and he realises that the way in which he'll do this is to become Dumbledore's favourite foot soldier. That's the role you see him gradually moving toward in this film. He's preparing for the seventh film."

After the events of Order of the Phoenix, in which Harry learnt that Voldemort was exploiting a connection the pair shared to cause Harry immense anger, it's understandable that he'd be keen to take the final step that'll set him on his way to destroying this ultimate evil. What he's learnt up to now and what he'll learn especially as he gazes into the memories of Voldemort's ascension is that there are plenty of similarities between him and this Dark Lord. Indeed, he recognises a similar sense of jubilation in the ten year-old Riddle at being introduced to the wizarding world as he felt when Hagrid delivered the same speech Dumbledore gives to Riddle to the similarly orphaned Potter in Philosopher's Stone.

Young Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin) in the Orphange.

In fact, perhaps what troubles Harry is that Voldemort had less reason to turn to evil - Riddle's room, we see, is no bigger than a cell, but that's certainly plenty of space in comparison to the cupboard under the stairs that was Harry's home for eleven years, and while they're both orphans, even Riddle didn't have to deal with the Dursleys as guardians. As important as it is for Harry to understand their similarities, he also has to get to grips with their differences, and while they're vast they're also much harder to spot.

"What's interesting about [Dan's] development with Harry is that you're seeing someone who's learning to play by grown-up's rules," Yates tells us. "There's a good line in the book and in the film which is, 'If the monster was there it was hidden deep within,' and this notion that Harry's learning these skills and developing these abilities at an interpersonal level, a human level; it's interesting to see that in Harry who's always just been Harry."

Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) faces his toughest challenge yet.

Another of the film's young cast is given a chance to shine in this film more than any of the others. Draco Malfoy's father Lucius may be in Azkaban prison after the events at the Ministry of Magic at the end of Order of the Phoenix, but his son has been tasked, by Lord Voldemort, to perform a very important mission. "He has many different challengers to face in this one," Draco star Tom Felton tells RT, "David and I have spent many an hour talking about his journey through the film and where he is mentally each scene. There's hopefully another side of Draco that you've not seen where he's not just a slimy git; he's a poor child who's been forced into this terrible deed, which isn't great."

It'd be difficult to reveal the exact nature of Draco's mission without spoiling the story, but suffice to say that the young Slytherin doesn't perform brilliantly under the pressure. With the Dark Lord breathing on his neck, and the ever increasing sense of dread as he comes to the realisation that he can't bring himself to complete the task, it's a softer side of the character we've not yet seen. "He was always quite a two-dimensional character inasmuch as he didn't like Harry," continues Felton, "whereas in this one he doesn't even have time for Harry anymore; he's completely consumed by his thoughts on what's going on around him."

Continue onto Page 5 as we learn about the film's adult newcomer, Jim Broadbent, who plays networking Professor Slughorn.